In the fertile soil of the Arkansas Delta, you’ll find a special group of leaders, volunteers and donors committed to making Craighead County the best it can be.
Craighead County Community Foundation was founded in 2001. Since its inception, the group has made $3.1 million in grants and scholarships. Their Giving Tree program continues to grow and accepts applications once a year. Recently, the affiliate received a large estate gift that will allow them to make nearly double the amount of Giving Tree grants in future years.
“There is a lot of need here. In response to that need, we are listening to the nonprofits closely and working hard to meet them where they are and be more flexible in how we provide funding,” said Jonathan Jacobs, current chair of the local board.
“I like our approach to grantmaking,” he said. “Our goal is to maximize our grant dollars to make the most impact possible. Knowing the nonprofits better enables us to do this.”
Jacobs and his wife started a fund at the Community Foundation in 2021 and give to a variety of causes. “I love having my whole family involved in philanthropy. We named our endowment together and I want my children to see the needs here locally and understand how people experience life different from us,” he said. “My dad taught me about service to others. One of my earliest memories was watching him fry fish [at an annual fundraiser] at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock. I’m grateful he taught me how to give back. One way I do that is by serving on this board.”
“Old ideas of philanthropy are gone,” said Gina Gomez, former board member. “The needs are too great so we must adapt and change. Literacy rates are dismal. Poverty is increasing. We must rise up to address these needs and more. By recruiting young professionals to our board, encouraging youth to be involved and pursuing as much information as we can, this community foundation is bringing new life to this county and its residents.”
Melissa Ayers is the executive director for the affiliate. “Next year, we plan to grant more than $108,000 from our Giving Tree and Stop Hunger endowments and want to keep doing more. We prioritize different areas of focus for our grantmaking based on data and community needs,” said Ayers. “But in addition to grantmaking, we are trying to teach this community about what philanthropy really is. It’s more than monetary donations and more than something only wealthy people can do — it is anything you can do that will help others.”
Melissa Ayers
“This affiliate has always had strong leadership, and we’ve always been a little ahead of the curve,” said Gomez. “But we want to keep building on that by being a better listener for underserved communities, attracting new donors and reaching out to new nonprofits. We want people in this area to know that this Foundation is for everyone.”
Craighead County Community Foundation is one of 29 local offices. To learn more about our affiliate system, visit arcf.org/affilates.